Kid Wrangling: What is it?

As a kid wrangler, I do whatever it takes to create the atmosphere
that elicits the expressions and actions a photographer needs to highlight their product.

You look at an
ad with kids doing what you can’t get from yours and wonder….

“How’d they get them to do that?”

That’s where
the Kid/BabyWrangler comes in...

...Doing whatever it takes to create the atmosphere
that elicits the expressions and actions you need to highlight your product.

Acting as advocate for, and liaison between, the client/photographer
and parent/kid, the wrangler knows when a break is needed, when it’s time to
switch out this kid for that one, while pulling tricks from pockets
to make it happen.

Often unpredictable,
the decision of what will work is made on the fly from one moment and kid to another.

So much happens
in that moment when the child and I meet. What is it that makes him click? What
actions, colors, characters, words speak to her? But what counts most is discovering
how I can win their trust so they see me as their friend on the set.

Then I get going, bringing out what is special about each kid—what will sell your product while
making sure they leave with a memorable experience.

The before
and after, as important as the during...

A toddler holds
a prototype of a microphone, not yet manufactured. It’s just a model, but we’re pretending
the music is streaming from his hand as we dance and we sing. He is totally into
his performance, and we‘re having a blast, and that blast is captured in
the shot…. Click

A preschooler
holds her baby doll so it’s right for the camera and her gaze is where it should
be. With a twinkle in her eye, and a happy, loving expression, she’s feeling proud
and delighted with the moment…That’s it. We got it!

It’s a stumble
or guffaw, a silly sound, mimicked gesture from behind the camera, a tickle from
out of sight under a chair or a dangled item from up a ladder. Sometimes, but rarely, just
a thumbs up. Whatever it takes, directing with humor, understanding and trust…it
happens.